North Carolina built an early lead Tuesday and defeated LSU, 4-2, eliminating the Tigers from the 2013 College World Series.

The Tar Heels (58-11) will play the loser of Tuesday night's matchup between North Carolina State and UCLA in another elimination game Thursday. UNC lost to the Wolfpack, 8-1, in the teams' opening game on Sunday.

North Carolina's Brian Holberton (10) got his team on the board in the top of the first with a two-run homer. The Tar Heels beat LSU, 4-2, Tuesday and eliminated the Tigers from the College World Series. (AP Photo)

Brian Holberton's two-run home run in the first inning gave the Tar Heels a 2-0 lead. The homer, Holberton's 12th of the season, also scored Colin Moran, who had singled.

"I thought the home run by Brian was really crucial for us." Tar Heels coach Mike Fox said. "Just kind of let the air out a little bit and let us play with a lead, something we seemed to haven't done in a while."

Chris McCue relieved Thornton after Thornton walked leadoff hitter Christian Ibarra in the eighth. McCue eventually loaded the bases but escaped the jam. He worked a perfect ninth to earn the save.

LSU starter Cody Glenn (7-3) lasted just two innings, surrendering three runs on five hits. Glenn was replaced by Brent Bonvillain, who gave up one run in 4 1/3 innings.

The No. 4-seeded Tigers (57-11) went 0-2 in their first CWS appearance since winning the 2009 national title.

"We expected to come out here and play better than we did," LSU coach Paul Mainieri said. "Even though we didn't play great, we lost a one-run game and a two-run game. We were in position to win the games. It wasn't like we came out here and got blown out. We were right there and just couldn't come through with the play here or hit here or a pitch there, and it stings a lot."

North Carolina remains the only team in the country to not lose back-to-back games this season. The Tar Heels are outscoring opponents 85-30 after losses, and their 58 wins are a school record.

"It goes to show the whole team doesn't want to give up," Holberton said. "We've done it all year with our backs against the wall. We just come out fighting. I think we play better that way. We just want to keep going."

LSU scored only three runs in two CWS games. National freshman of the year Alex Bregman, who was batting a team-leading .374, was hitless in eight at-bats. Raph Rhymes, batting .337, was 0-for-9 in Omaha and stranded eight base runners against the Tar Heels. Ibarra, batting .311, finished the season hitless in his last 22 at-bats.

Thornton, who has served in every capacity on the Carolina pitching staff, was making his sixth start in 29 appearances, but first since March 27.

He got the call over available weekend starters Hobbs Johnson and Benton Moss, both of whom have struggled of late. Thornton came in as the Tar Heels' best pitcher in the postseason, having allowed two runs in 21 1/3 innings.